NORDIC INTERTRADE Vs. STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) I.A. 11739/2012 in OMP 573/2012

(2.) BY this order I shall decide IA 11739/2012 filed in OMP 573/2012, by which the petitioner seeks condonation of 21 days" delay in filing the petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act ("Act" in short) challenging the Award dated January 23, 2012.

(3.) ON receipt of the award in Norway, the petitioner examined it and took advice from its lawyers on further course of action, which consumed substantial time. Pursuant thereto all the documents were entrusted to the present Advocate of the petitioner who after going through the documents and the impugned award has prepared and filed the petition. The petitioner has also averred that from the date of receipt of the award i.e. February 07, 2012, the present petition ought to have been filed within 3 months i.e. May 07, 2012, but was filed on May 28, 2012. According to the petitioner, the delay of 21 days had occurred for the reasons stated above inasmuch as it took some time to receive proper legal advice on the issues which involve complex questions of law as well as important principles of shipping and maritime law and there is a sufficient cause for condoning the delay which was unintentional and bona -fide.